Guwahati: With Russia commencing a military campaign in Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs has established a Control Room to provide information and help to Indian nationals. The government has issued the following helpline numbers:
Phone: 1800118797 (Toll free)
+91-11-23012113
+91-11-23014104
+91-11-23017905
Fax: +91-11-23088124
The MEA has also released an Email id wherein Indian nationals in Ukraine can write to the government. Here is the email id: situationroom@mea.gov.in
However, “Tamils living in Ukraine can contact the Tamil Nadu government through the website mm.abdulla@sansad.nic.in if they need help returning home, ” said Stalin.
The statement said: Students and working Tamils studying in Ukraine can call 044-28515288, 9600023645, 994025644 for assistance or go to the website www.nrtamil.tn.gov.in. to request assistance.
The Tamil Nadu government has already written a letter expressing its willingness to help Tamils in Ukraine.
Earlier, Official authorities said that India is looking into methods to assist its citizens. Official sources said the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and considering how to support Indians there.
“We are keeping a close eye on the fast-changing scenario. The safety and security of Indians, particularly students, is a priority “according to a source
Meanwhile, as per the latest available information, Air India flight AI1947 is returning to Delhi due to a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) in Kyiv, Ukraine. At around 7.45 a.m. today, a Ukraine International Airlines flight carrying 182 Indian nationals landed at the Delhi airport.
Several Indian students are currently stranded in Ukraine and are appealing to be evacuated. However, with Russia commencing a military action in Kyiv, it will be interesting to observe how India responds.
Ambassador TS Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, reported that around 20,000 Indian nationals, including students, are currently residing in Ukraine. “All Indian nationals, including Indian students, are being returned as needed,” he said.
India urged for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine in a speech to the UN Security Council on Thursday. Tirumurti told the powerful world organisation that the Indian government had urged for de-escalation two days before and emphasised the importance of diplomacy in resolving all issues touching the situation.
“However, we regret that the international community’s demands for time to be given to recent efforts by parties to de-escalate tensions were not heard. “The situation is on the verge of becoming a huge crisis,” Tirumurti warned.
He advocated for a quick de-escalation and stated that the only way to find a solution is for the interested parties to engage in continuous diplomatic engagement.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said today that Russia will launch a military campaign against Ukraine. Putin stated that Russia does not want to annex all of Ukraine, and that the military action was begun to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from “Ukrainian aggression.”